Spray and splash reducing cap

ABSTRACT

Described herein is a closure for the reduction of spray and splash when substances such as tomato ketchup and other substances are being squeezed out of a container. In one embodiment of the invention, the closure has a chamber, a pliable structure that has an opening for substances to flow into the chamber, and an outlet. The invention, allows the substances from the container to be squeezed out in a smooth flow, resulting in significantly reduced spray or splash.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The closures presently available result in unsightly and inconvenientspray and splash when substances such as tomato ketchup are beingsqueezed out of a container. This spray and splash increases when thequantity of the substance in the container decreases. The presentinvention, compared to any other presently in use, decreases the sprayand splash very significantly, resulting in a smooth flow of thesubstance while it is being squeezed out of the container even after thequantity of the substance in the container decreases. Using thisinvention the spray and splash is either non existent or extremelynegligible.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly described the present invention comprises of a spray and splashreducing closure. The closure has a chamber which has a pliablestructure that has an opening for substances to flow into the chamber,and an outlet. The invention, allows substances to be squeezed out ofthe container in a smooth flow, resulting in significantly reduced sprayor splash.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a combinationincluding a container having a neck forming an opening and the closurefor sealing the opening. An internal configuration on an inner surfaceof the closure is shaped to mate with the external configuration of theneck of the container.

Another aspect of the invention uses a non pliable structure with anopening, through which substances flow into the chamber of the closure.

Yet another aspect of the invention is that the closure can be producedthrough the injection moulding (molding), blow moulding (molding)process or using a 3D printer, with the pliable or the non pliablestructure with the opening, being integrated into the cap duringproduction process, or the pliable or non pliable structure with theopening, being installed into the cap as a separate component. Thematerials used may be thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers or othercomposite materials. However, the production is not limited to the aboveprocess and materials.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is directed to a combinationof components, including a disc which forms the pliable or the nonpliable structure with an opening. This disc is fixed into the closureas a separate component and the closure is made up of severalcomponents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure having aconical shape in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure having acylindrical shape in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure having aconical shape in which the pliable or the non pliable disc is installedseparately in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure having acylindrical shape in which the pliable or the non pliable disc isinstalled separately in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure with a conicalshape for which the components are moulded separately and then assembledin accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure with acylindrical shape for which the components are moulded separately andthen assembled in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the spray and splash reducing closurehaving a conical shape for which the components are moulded separatelyand then assembled in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the spray and splash reducing closure witha cylindrical shape for which the components are moulded separately andthen assembled in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the spray and splash reducing closurehaving a conical shape for which the components are moulded separatelyand then assembled in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the spray and splash reducing closurewith a cylindrical shape for which the components are moulded separatelyand then assembled in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure with aconical shape using a closing cap in place of the closing flap inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view of the spray and splash reducing closure with aconical shape wherein the cap can be turned to close the outlet inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 of the spray and splash reducingclosure in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the spray and splash reducing closuremated with a container and shows a partial view of the container inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The closures presently available result in unsightly and inconvenientspray and splash when substances such as tomato ketchup are beingsqueezed out of a container. This spray and splash increases when thequantity of the substance in the container decreases. The presentinvention decreases the spray and splash significantly, resulting in asmooth flow of the substance while it is being squeezed out of thecontainer even after the quantity of the substance in the containerdecreases.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with thepreferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intendedto limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary, theinvention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications andequivalents which may be included within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1. a spray and splash reducing closure in the form ofa bottle cap in accordance with the present invention forms a closurefor capping off a spout or the neck of the container (not shown). Theclosure has a chamber (1), a pliable structure (2), the inlet forsubstances to flow into the chamber (3), the outlet for substances toflow out of the closure (4), the closing flap (5), the internal sidewall of the skirt of the closure shows conventional spiral threads (6)that mate with a container (not shown).

When the container is squeezed, the substance contained in the containerfirst flows into the chamber of the closure through the orifice in thepliable structure before flowing out. The reduced content of air in thechamber as compared to the content of air in the container, furtheraided by the downward thrust of the pliable structure, through whichsubstances flow into the chamber, results in a smooth flow of substanceswhen the container is squeezed, facilitating a significant reduction ofspray and splash of the substances when the substances such as tomatoketchup are squeezed out of the container, on to a plate, for example.

Referring to FIG. 2. illustrates an alternative embodiment in accordancewith the present invention, a spray and splash reducing closure in theform of a bottle cap which functions the same as the closure shown inFIG. 1 except that the closure in FIG. 2 has a cylindrical shape. Inthis case, the chamber is marked as (1), the pliable structure as (2),the orifice in the pliable structure as (3), the outlet as (4) and theclosing flap as (5).

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4. illustrate alternative embodiments inaccordance with the present invention, a spray and splash reducingclosure in the form of a bottle cap which function the same as theclosure shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 except that the pliable structure (2)in the form of a disc with an orifice, is installed as a separatecomponent. In these figures, the chamber is marked as (1), the pliablestructure as (2), the orifice as (3), the outlet as (4) and the closingflap as (5).

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6. illustrate alternative embodiments inaccordance with the present invention, a spray and splash reducingclosure in the form of a bottle cap which function the same as theclosure shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 except that the components aremoulded separately and then assembled. In this case, the chamber ismarked as (1), the pliable structure as (2), the orifice in the pliablestructure as (3), the outlet as (4), the closing flap as (5), thethreads in the internal wall of the skirt that mate with the containeras (6), the threads in the internal wall of the component that mate withthe threads in the external wall of the component as (7), the threads inthe external wall of the component that mate with the threads in theinternal wall of the component as (8).

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 are of exploded views of FIGS. 5 and 6wherein the components are moulded separately. In this case, the chamberis marked as (1), the pliable structure as (2), the orifice in thepliable structure as (3), the outlet as (4), the closing flap as (5),the threads in the internal wall of the skirt that mate with thecontainer as (6), the threads (7) in the internal wall of the component(A) that mates with the threads (8) in the external wall of thecomponent (B).

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate yet more alternative embodimentsin accordance with the present invention, a spray and splash reducingclosure in the form of a bottle cap which functions the same as theclosure shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 wherein the components are mouldedseparately and fused together. In this case, the chamber is marked as(1), the pliable structure as (2), the orifice in the pliable structureas (3), the outlet as (4) and the closing flap as (5).

Referring to FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention, of the spray and splash reducing closure, wherein theclosing flap is replaced with a closing cap. In this case, the chamberis marked as (1), the pliable structure as (2), the orifice in thepliable structure as (3), the outlet as (4) and the closing cap as (5).

Referring to FIG. 12 illustrates yet another embodiment in accordancewith the present invention of the spray and splash reducing closurewherein a cap with a turning mechanism is used for closing the outlet inplace of the closing flap. In this case, the chamber is marked as (1),the pliable structure as (2), the orifice in the pliable structure as(3), the outlet as (4) and the turning arrangement to close the outletas (5).

Referring to FIG. 13 illustrates a sectional view of one of theembodiments in accordance with the present invention of the spray andsplash reducing closure.

Referring to FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional view of one of theembodiments in accordance with the present invention of the spray andsplash reducing closure mated with a container where the closure ismarked by (1) a partial view of the container that is shown is marked by(2).

Referring to all of the figures it may be noted that the pliablestructure with an orifice can be replaced with a non pliable structure.

1. A closure for closing the opening of a container, said closurecomprising: a skirt with spiral threads on the internal wall that areadapted to mate with a container, a pliable structure resembling a discwith an orifice, a chamber into which substances flow in through theorifice of the pliable structure, an outlet from the chamber forsubstances to flow out, a closing flap for the outlet.
 2. The closure ofclaim 1 wherein the closure is moulded as one composite unit.
 3. Theclosure of claim 1 wherein the pliable structure in the form of a rounddisc or a disc of any other shape with an orifice is fitted as aseparate component.
 4. The closure of claim 1 wherein the closure iscomprised of several components.
 5. The closure of claim 1 wherein thepliable structure with an orifice is replaced with a non pliablestructure with an orifice.
 6. The closure of claim 1 wherein the skirtcomprises ribs on the internal wall or mating with the container.
 7. Theclosure of claim 1 wherein the closing flap is replaced with a cap. 8.The closure of claim 1 wherein the closing flap is replaced with anouter cap to be turned to close the outlet.
 9. The closure of claim 3wherein the pliable structure in the form of a round disc or a disc ofany other shape with an orifice is replaced with a non pliable structurein the form a round disc or a disc of any other shape with an orifice.